Pacific Drift

Formed in Britain toward the close of the 1960s, the quartet Pacific Drift featured Barry Reynolds on guitar and vocals, Brian Shapman handling keyboards and vocals, Graham Harrop on bass, and Lawrence Arendes—known as Larry King—on drums. Having previously played with Liverpool’s Wimple Winch, King put the group together after the dissolution of Sponge, the jazz rock outfit that collapsed once saxophonist Jack Lancaster departed in 1968 to join Blodwyn Pig. Their first single, a rendition of Spirit’s ‘Water Woman’, appeared ahead of the self-titled album issued in 1970. Although the musicians performed at underground clubs and festivals, Pacific Drift proved unable to maintain momentum and disbanded before the year ended.